My brand-new CPAP/APAP device feels funny and not as comfortable as my rental one.
Even though it is the same model and the same settings, sometimes a new CPAP device can feel a little off, where we miss the old rental device and feel like we have to start from scratch, getting used to CPAP all over again. This is quite common, and there is a reason why.
The tiny, high-powered motor inside your device spins at a remarkable speed, but when it is fresh from the box, all the little components involved can be tight and stiff. From the factory, all these parts are often at their tightest and need some time to relax. Devices and timeframes can vary, but it can take over 50 hours of use for the device to be broken in and for some of the internal friction to ease. This, in turn, can lower the rigidity that the pressure feels with each breath.
The internal micro-vibrations also help to dull the stiffness of the ‘air feel’, and the internal silicone gaskets can be stiff out of the box. They often flex slightly over time with the warming of the parts and, in time, can act as tiny shock absorbers to ease the flow of air.
If issues continue past this breaking-in period, please don’t hesitate to contact the place of purchase, as there may be some of the settings that can be adjusted.
By Michael L
